I was wondering where you can find patterns or pattern maneuvers. How does one go about getting into pattern flying?

Thanks.

Try posting in the Pattern Forum.

Cheers

To get the pattern sequences that are flown, you can visit the AMA website (the FAI patterns are updated every two years). For the IMAC pattern sequences you can visit the IMAC website (www.mini-iac.com). you will need to learn to read Arresti, and you can actually download the current Arresti Catalog (do a google search). Flying pattern is probably the most techically difficult challenge in RC.

Now if you just want to do some stunts and don't care about loops being perfectly circular, rolls that don't hold a straight line, tail wagging on up or down lines, etc, just go out at fly. There are only a few basic maneuvers, the combination of which is used to create the patterns. Practice the snot out of those maneuvers, then you can start learning how to put them together.

Good luck, and remember - its all about having fun.

Brad

Google "basic rc aerobatics" and you'll get a bunch of great beginner's explanations and guides that will help you get started. Once you've mastered the basics of loops rolls and stall turns, the rest is just a combination of those basic manouvers. They're all very simple at heart, but even the basic loop or roll is alot more involved if performed correctly.

Most of us sport pilots just yank the desired amount of elevator and fly our loop however it comes. Done correctly, the pilot will also correct track with rudder, correct any roll reaction with aileron, round the loop with varying elevator input and keep the speed constant with throttle management. Same with a roll. Most of us just point the nose up 10-15 degrees, hold some aileron and bail'er out at the end. A real roll is flown like a slow roll. Aileron, rudder, elevator, rudder, as the plane rotates, fuse always on the imaginary tightrope of the line we're drawing.

Take a look at what's out there, read a few aerobatics 101 type articles, try what you learn, hone your skills, and become a better pilot! Aerobatics are never mastered, there's always room for improvement. Much more rewarding than just boring holes in the sky!

J

Thanks. I'm definitely looking for a little more than just getting the plane in the sky and yanking on the controls. I am a beginner still, so I'm obviously not about to start pattern flying yet, but I was looking for some direction in learning different moves, and how to execute them properly. I've already found some great stuff!

I certainly concur with everything that has been said but would like to add that arguably the most difficult basic building block manuver is simply true straight and level flight. Most pilots and I certainly am including myself, do this poorly and most exercise repetive dive and swoop from one end to the other. Every practice flight for any discipline precision aerobatics should include a little conscious effort at straight and level.

John

First, NSRCA is a good a starting place as any.

www.nsrca.org

Next.. regarding straight and level flight, well, that's a scoring point for pattern competition. It is an absolute must, and is the only way to enter into a maneuver. You can enter in other ways, but you will spend more time trying to make corrections than if you go with a straight and level entry. The 1/2 reverse cuban eight was last years first maneuver. Try one by entering with a slight roll attitude. The beginning of the maneuver must be straight or it will just not work.

A lot of this depends on the flyer. Learning to do a proper trim so that the plane flys straight and level with the hands-off, is a great beginning. However, this takes a bit of time to learn to do quickly and correctly. And, of course, constant corrections on the sticks is not a good thing either. Not only does it show sloppy lines, but it eats up battery power.

Learn to fly straight and level. Learn to make smooth and clean turns that do not have any climb or dive during the turn. Then, learn to exit the turn in a straight and level line. Once you master that, then start with a basic maneuver, a loop. Make the loop clean, round, and learn to remove throttle at the top of the loop so that you are not pushing the loop but allowing the plane to finish it for you. Then learn where to add throttle, how much to add to maintain a straight and level flight along the line where you entered the loop.

All this takes time. My instructor/mentor told me that the key to this is burning fuel. Lots of fuel.... in other words, an awful lot of practice. And, of course, attend competition events. Watch, or better yet, just enter the Sportsman category (NSRCA) and fly. (of course, you do this after you know the maneuvers and are able to do them, no matter how good, from the take-off to landing (all are scored by the way). A crash is not a landing, by the way, and a smooth transition from flying to landing is an absolute necessity.

As I said, it takes time, practice, and lots of fuel. But, it's worth it. Many say that pattern flyers (either IMAC or NSRCA) are much better pilots because they are more disciplined pilots and learn to focus on what they are doing. And it shows up in all their flying.. the polish, the finesse.. is obvious.

CGr.